Cargo Ship Destroyed by Over-the-Limit Officer

The Lysblink Seaways was en-route to Norway when it crashed into the rocky shoreground, causing 25 tons of oil to leak into the sea and completely wrecking the ship.
The accident report revealed that the sole watch keeper was 8 times over the limit: he had consumed half a litre of rum before his shift, despite the company’s zero-tolerance alcohol policy.
In addition to being in charge under the influence, the Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System had been deactivated, which contributed to the accident.
Two key messages have been found from this unfortunate incident: the first, that on-board alcohol screening should be an essential and regular part of any vessel’s procedures. ALCO XS allows ships to deliver random on-board testing at any time, while Narcoscreen™ covers random drug screening to further protect crew wellbeing and ship safety.
Secondly, a BNWAS which is unable to be deactivated in such a way is vital to protecting vessels and crew. The Navgard BNWAS system is designed as an ‘all-in-one’ solution, preventing key switch deactivation which – as seen above – is a treacherous risk.